The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Earning their stars with elan

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Sunday, Sep 17, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Earning their stars with elan

R.K. Radhakrishnan

280 Army cadets pass out of OTA in Chennai 280 Army cadets pass out of Officers Training Academy in Chennai

CHENNAI: The overcast skies threatened to open up any minute. But they held out for a few hours on Saturday, as if to allow as many as 280 cadets to take part in their passing-out parade at the Indian Army's premier training institution, the Officers Training Academy, here.

The 210 men and 70 women cadets went though the paces with clockwork precision, and were commissioned as officers at the end of the parade. The OTA is the only institution in the country where women officers are trained for positions in the Army in the non-medical cadres.

The parade began at 6:52 a.m. at the Major Parameshwaran drill square as the markers took position. Cadets marched out to the tune of `Jai Bharati'.

The Presidential Colours were brought out soon. The acting Deputy Commandant took the salute, followed by the acting Commandant, William Isaaks.

The reviewing officer, Vice-Chief of the Army Staff Lt.Gen. S. Pattabhiraman, inspected the parade and spoke to the cadets on the importance of keeping abreast of technological developments.

The General said the Army looked forward to more women being commissioned.

"The women officers today are doing very well in the Army and they are able to take up any challenging assignment that are given to them. Recently the government has also asked us to look into more avenues where the women officers can be employed."

As the cadets gathered for the piping ceremony, the 9 SIKH LI band from Bangalore, comprising bagpipers and drummers, displayed their skills. Then, as the proud parents gathered around their children, Gen. Pattabhiraman piped a lady cadet, marking the beginning of the ceremony that unveiled the first stars on the shoulders of the officer.

In a few moments, the newly commissioned officers went around thanking their instructors, hugging each other and posing for photographs.

Later in the day, they had a picnic— and then they got a break to go home.

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